hornadylnl
Shooter
- Nov 19, 2008
- 21,505
- 63
Oh no...I have no problem criticizing Irsay. I think the guy is a snake. I'll even leave his drug habit out of it. But honestly....can you name a business man in Indy that wouldn't have jumped on the deal he was offered? Does it make it right? Absolutely not. I was not in any way meaning Irsay is blameless. But I do think politicians should shoulder most of the blame for offering the deal in the first place. Personally...I'd have called Mayflower for them. They could have gotten a repeat customer discount.
I don't think you will find any business owners that would demand $700 million dollar facilities paid for at public expense. Look at the lynchings (figurative) that take place every time a business asks for a tax abatement? If my employer went to the city of Lafayette and demanded a new facility or we'd leave, the city would tell them to get bent.
Colts players? I dunno...they hammer out a contract that sets their salary. Can I fault them for taking all the money they can get? I personally can't. They only make what someone is willing to pay.
Who's the willing party paying the players salaries? It sure isn't me. But if I want a cheeseburger in Marion or the donut counties, I get to pay for it. If Irsay were writing Manning's check, I couldn't care less if it were $1 billion per game. But Irsay is using the force of government to take from people willing or not and giving it to Manning. And the fact that Manning can't see that is what is happening is more reason for me to lose respect for him. How is his exorbitant salary any different than AIG using bailout money to pay bonuses to their executives?
My salary comes from taxpayers (keep in mind I also pay the same taxes). Would I turn down a raise because of it? Not likely. Bob Smith works at Wal-Mart. Should he turn down a raise because it will mean the cost of Wal-Mart milk will go up 2 cents a gallon? Sam Jones works for Speedway Gas Co. Should he turn down a raise because the cost of fuel may go up a penny a gallon?
Are you willing to take a pay cut to lower taxes or to lower the costs of consumer products?
I've taken a $1 an hour pay cut plus benefit reductions in the last year. I'm off for a month and a half due to a temporary layoff. I guess if I were a union employee, I could refuse the pay and benefit reductions but what good would that do if it only hastens the demise of my employer? What good does that extra $1 do if my employer goes bankrupt and closes their door?
Do I like losing money? No. But I'd sure as hell rather have an $18 an hour job than collect unemployment at less than $10 an hour.
So yes, for the health of my company, I'm willing to take a pay cut if it helps to keep my job. In the private sector, businesses must take in more than they spend. In the government sector or pro sports, if expenses are greater than income, they just send out their minions with guns to take from others to make up the difference.